PRATTVILLE, Ala. — Ninth-grader Alexis Thompson shot a 3-under-par 69 on Friday for a share of the lead with top-ranked Lorena Ochoa and three others after the second round of the Navistar LPGA Classic.
The 14-year-old Thompson, from Coral Springs, Fla., is trying to become the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history.
“I mean, I can say I’m really mature for 14,” said Thompson, the sister of PGA Tour player Nicholas Thompson. “I would definitely say that. But, I mean, I don’t know. I just play golf every day. I mean, I’m young. That’s the only difference. I don’t know, I’m pretty good for a young player. . . . I’m 14 and I just love to play golf.”
Marlene Hagge won the 1952 Sarasota Open 14 days after her 18th birthday and took the Bakersfield Open two months later, but both were 18-hole events. Paula Creamer won the 2005 Sybase Classic at 18 years, 9 months to become the youngest winner of a full tournament.
Ochoa (68), Laura Davies (65), Yani Tseng (63) and Giulia Sergas (65) matched Thompson at 10-under 134 on The Senator course at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail’s Capitol Hill complex.
Taylor takes PGA lead
VERONA, N.Y. — Vaughn Taylor shot his second straight 67 to take a one-shot lead after two rounds in the Turning Stone Resort Championship.
Taylor was at 10-under 134 after another cold, wet and somewhat windy day at Atunyote Golf Club.
Tied for second were Golden native Leif Olson (69), Matt Kuchar (68) and Nicholas Thompson (67).
Footnotes.
Tom Watson sank a 50-foot birdie putt on the 13th hole en route to a 2-under 68 that gave him a two-stroke lead over Craig Stadler (65—136), Bob Tway (68), Jay Haas (70) and Mark Wiebe (67) after the second round of the Senior Players Championship in Timonium, Md.
• Rory McIlroy birdied the last two holes on the Old Course at St. Andrews for a 7-under 65 and a share of the lead with Richie Ramsay (66—133) and Michael Hoey (66) at the halfway stage of the Dunhill Links Championship in St. Andrews, Scotland.
The Associated Press
